Developing Leadership Skills

Philip Volpe, DO, COL, USA

Summer, 1999

Leadership is an acquired skill. While some people appear to be "natural born leaders," most people develop into leaders by traveling through a series of experiences that hone characteristics necessary to lead. One must take on leadership positions and leadership roles if they are to develop the characteristics of a good leader, display the performance of a good leader and show the potential to take on leadership roles of greater magnitude. Training to be a leader is like any other training: the more you do it, the greater the opportunities to develop, and the better you become. The following characteristics are essential for the development of a successful leader:

• Ability to Listen and Learn
• Ability to Focus on the Big Picture
• Ability to Organize and Plan
• Ability to Develop Solutions and Problem Solve
• Ability to make Decisive Decisions
• Ability to maintain an Optimistic Attitude
• Ability to take the Initiative
• Ability to Motivate and Influence others
• Ability to Clearly and Effectively Communicate
• Ability to Project Self-Confidence
• Ability to Anticipate and Aquire Resources
• Ability to Build Trust and Foster Teamwork
• Ability to Handle and Resolve Conflicts
• Ability to Express Gratitude and Show Compassion
• Ability to Maintain Flexibility and be Adaptable.